Method and apparatus for cooling semiconductor pumped lasers

Abstract

A laser system having a cooling apparatus is disclosed. The laser system includes a resonator, a gain medium and multiple heat-absorbing discs. The resonator is formed by a first mirror and a second mirror. The gain medium, which is contained within the resonator, is collectively formed by a group of gain medium segments. Each of the gain medium segments is preferably in the shape of a cylindrical disc. The heat-absorbing discs are interleavely disposed among the gain medium segments to provide face cooling for the gain medium segments during the operation of the laser system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A laser system comprising:
 a resonator formed by a first mirror and a second mirror; 
 an active gain medium contained within said resonator, wherein said active gain medium is collectively formed by a plurality of gain medium segments, wherein the diameter of one of said gain medium segments is at least three times longer than the length of said one gain medium segment; and 
 a plurality of heat-absorbing discs interleavedly disposed among said plurality of gain medium segments and only contacting said plurality of gain media segments to provide face cooling for said plurality of gain medium segments during an, operation of said laser system, wherein all of said plurality of gain medium segments are in face contact across all of their cross-sectional areas with surfaces of said heat-absorbing discs at all temperatures, wherein said face cooling is performed without using additional conductors. 
 
     
     
       2. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs and said gain medium segments are held together by a pair of metal discs such that said heat-absorbing discs are in optical contact with said gain medium segments at all times during operation. 
     
     
       3. The laser system of  claim 2 , wherein said metal discs are made of copper. 
     
     
       4. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said gain medium segments are made of Nd:YAG. 
     
     
       5. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said gain medium segments are made of Tm:YAG. 
     
     
       6. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are made of sapphire. 
     
     
       7. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are made of zinc selenium. 
     
     
       8. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are made of calcium fluoride. 
     
     
       9. The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are of equal thickness. 
     
     
       10. A method for cooling a pump laser, said method comprising:
 forming a resonator by a first minor and a second mirror; 
 placing an active gain medium within said resonator, wherein said active gain medium is collectively formed by a plurality of gain medium segments, wherein the diameter of one of said gain medium segments is at least three times longer than the length of said one gain medium segment; and 
 interleavedly disposing a plurality of heat-absorbing discs among said plurality of gain medium segments to provide face cooling for said plurality of gain medium segments during an operation of said pump laser, wherein all of said plurality of gain medium segments are in face contact across all of their cross-sectional areas with surfaces of said heat-absorbing discs at all temperatures, wherein said plurality of heat-absorbing discs only contact said plurality of gain media segments, wherein said face cooling is performed without using additional conductors. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said method further includes clamping said heat-absorbing discs and said gain medium segments together by a pair of metal discs such that said heat-absorbing discs are in optical contact with said gain medium segments at all times during operation. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said metal discs are made of copper. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said gain medium segments are made of Nd:YAG. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said gain medium segments are made of Tm:YAG. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are made of sapphire. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are made of zinc selenium. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are made of calcium fluoride. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said heat-absorbing discs are of equal thickness.